I applied for a Linens-N-Things credit card though Monogram Credit Card Bank of Georgia. I provided current, accurate billing and contact information and certified such with my signature.
This company changed my billing address to my physical address and did not notify me of the changes. I live in a rural community that does not have house to house mail delivery. I must receive my mail at the Post Office at no PO Box rental cost.
Monogram Credit Card received my billing statements back as "undeliverable" (not once, but twice), and never called me to correct a billing error. I have never received the actual credit cards either.instead, on 18 Nov, I tracked down the number for Monogram Credit Customer Service Branch and fixed the problem myself. I also requested my billing statements.
When I was contacted by a Monogram collection agent on 20 Nov I was told that in accordance with the Patriot Act, Credit Companies could no longer send bills to PO Boxes. I understand, that in accordance with the Patriot Act, I must provide a physical address for records purposes. However, I did not authorize Monogram Credit Card to change the billing/mailing address on the credit card application. I did not authorize them to divert my mail in anyway.
Prior to any changes, this company should have contacted me. At best, these actions constitute Mail Freud. When I signed a credit application, I signed a contract with Monogram Credit card company.in turn, this company changed our contract without my notification or mutual approval. Therefore, I feel the contract I have with Monogram Credit card company is null and void. I have racked up 2 months of late fees due to this unauthorized address changes. Clearly credit card companies are using the guise of the Patriot Act to defreud consumers.
When my billing statements arrived on 30 Nov, I paid the off the full balance. I have a Postcard Receit showing that the company received my payment and complait on 3 Dec. While on vacation for 5 days (9-13 Dec), I received 15 calls from the collection agency. Curious as to why my account had not been cleared, I again called Customer Service and was told they had not received any payments and had no record of the complaint I filed with the company. I asked to talk to a supervisor and was put on hold for 30 minutes. No supervisor answered my call.
The Patriot Act has let us down. It has provided a loop hole for smaller (less reputable) credit companies to defreud consumers, commit Mail Fraud, and breech binding contrarcts.
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